It’s all too tempting as a student to get into bad habits when it comes to shopping for food. Here are some tips to help you both eat properly and save money!
1. Don’t go food shopping when you’re hungry – you’ll find yourself buying things to eat right there and then, and not thinking about the coming week. Instead, write a list and stick to it. Supermarkets are designed to tempt you to buy stuff you don’t need, so do a basket check before you pay and turf out things that weren’t on the list.
2. Keep a supply of non-perishable food – pasta, tins of fruit/veg/beans, tomato sauce, stock cubes and UHT milk. This should lessen the temptation to run out and buy something expensive if you run out of perishables!
3. Buy in bulk – pay for home delivery once a term or so and stock up on non-perishable food and heavy items. The savings by buying in bulk will more than cancel out the cost of delivery and the driver has to drag your beer up the stairs instead of you!
4. Shop with a friend and take advantage of ‘buy one, get one free’ offers. Don’t be tempted to buy them if you’re on your own – if it’s perishable stuff you’ll probably end up chucking it out.
5. Go to markets, butchers and other independent shops – they’re sometimes cheaper than supermarkets, depending on the area, and can be haggled with. Failing that, use the deli section of the supermarket rather than paying for pre-packaged meat – it’s cheaper and better for the environment.
6. Buy from the supermarkets’ value ranges – don’t be put off by the no-frills packaging, they’re often repackaged leading brands!
7. Go to supermarkets near closing time (especially the day before a holiday when the shop will be closed) and snap up the reduced items; if you need packed lunches, don’t be afraid to buy lots of cheap sandwiches this way – they can be frozen (avoid ones containing lettuce though!).
8. Invest in a slow cooker – you’ll be able to make great stew with cheap cuts of meat.
9. If you live with others, consider a cooking rota. Cooking for several is much more cost-efficient and means you only have to think about cooking once every few days. Plus, you get company for dinner and it may motivate you to become a better cook!
10. When cooking, always make more than you need and stick it in the freezer. Take it out the night before you need it and let it defrost in the fridge overnight. No point making a mess of the kitchen more often than necessary!
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